Can An Action Movie With Clive Owen Turn Things Around For Katherine Heigl?

By
Kevin Jagernauth
|
The PlaylistMay 6, 2013 at 2:03PM

Katherine Heigl hasn't always been her own best advocate. A lead role in Judd Apatow's "Knocked Up" is mostly remembered by the fallout that came when she complained about the supposed sexist elements of the hit film. Then there's the saga with "Gray's Anatomy," with the actress battling with the creatives on the show and even withdrawing her name from Emmy contention one year because she didn't feel the material was up to snuff. While one could scoff at the irony of someone who went on star in movies like "27 Dresses" and "The Ugly Truth," Heigl had the last laugh because they were hits. And then suddenly, her choices were no longer so sound. "Killers," "One For The Money" and "The Big Wedding" were all bombs, with the Apatow-clone "Life As We Know It" as the lone outlier, a modest hit that you still probably forgot existed. So perhaps it's no shock Heigl is changing things up.

Katherine Heigl hasn't always been her own best advocate. A lead role in Judd Apatow's "Knocked Up" is mostly remembered by the fallout that came when she complained about the supposed sexist elements of the hit film. Then there's the saga with "Gray's Anatomy," with the actress battling with the creatives on the show and even withdrawing her name from Emmy contention one year because she didn't feel the material was up to snuff. While one could scoff at the irony of someone who went on star in movies like "27 Dresses" and "The Ugly Truth," Heigl had the last laugh because they were hits. And then suddenly, her choices were no longer so sound. "Killers," "One For The Money" and "The Big Wedding" were all bombs, with the Apatow-clone "Life As We Know It" as the lone outlier, a modest hit that you still probably forgot existed. So perhaps it's no shock Heigl is changing things up.

Strap in because she's teaming up with Clive Owen for "Survivor," a pretty dumb sounding action flick, set to be directed by James McTeigue ("Ninja Assassin," "V For Vendetta," "The Raven"). The movie will find Heigl playing a State Department employee working at the American embassy in London, who has to go on the run after its bombed, everyone is killed and she's framed for a crime she didn't commit. Not only will have to clear her name, but she'll have to stop another bomb plot set up for New Year's Eve. Look out "Salt"!

So basically, Heigl is trying to be Angelina Jolie, or at least showing she can kick ass as much as she can deliver pithy rom-com dialogue. Will it work? Do you care? Is this gonna turn things around for Heigl? You know where to go... [Screen Daily]